flatdawgs

They're not. You basically described UW football, and we were always hopeful they'd get scheduled up here in November because of it. We called it "USC weather" - one year was 60mph winds, 45 degrees and sideways rain. They always had the talent advantage, but weather is a leveller. They're about to FAFO with those northern schools.

Not to mention that picking a single season and basing everything on that is ludicrous. What OOC match-ups did you have? Did you have an out of the ordinary good/bad season? Why not just cherry pick the past 5 non-Covid seasons? At least there's some leveling there (and OK and Iowa States still probably come out okay. (Example: UW's numbers are never under a million, except last season they missed USC in the conference schedule and had a head coach go 4-8 with 9 win talent, getting shitcanned after one season. Go back 5 non-Covid years? Three NY6 bowls and a CFB berth. Probably a lot more eyeballs on those teams.) I actually really like ISU and want them to land on their feet in the best possible conference they can get. This entire thing pisses me off to no end. Anything that gets Ducks and Huskies to work together must be an abomination to the Lord. 😉

They were a package deal to keep the networks (Fox, in this case) from paying twice - two conference deals - for the LA market. I detest Oregon, but they'd have been the second choice in a vacuum. Stanford and UW for different reasons would be next, UCLA, Utah and ASU nearby. Of the 10 public Pac-12 schools that must report, UW athletics has the highest income and budget, in an effective tie with UO. UCLA obviously tips the needle in basketball, but if football is paying the way, they're not second choice in the conference. Eliminating the LA market for anyone else was the reason it went down like this. Otherwise why not grab Arizona too? USC and Oregon recruit nationally. I doubt the Trojans lose much sleep over Duck recruiting. If they do, they're still a giant pussy that's going to get reamed in the B1G. May it ever be so.

One other thing - the Russian consulate here is barricaded and guarded by some desultory-looking Turkish military cops. The best thing about the consulate, however, is that directly across the street is the "Bayraktar" currency exchange. I'm guessing the Russkies go to a different one....

I would have, but the cisterns are closed and I couldn't find them. (they actually are, so now I have to come back again to see them. And find Karim Bey's kids).

So I'm here in Istanbul, and have noticed a few things: - No Ukrainian flags. Portugal had many when I was there recently. - Still a lot of Russians about; it's one place they can. exchange rubles for goods and services (and useful currencies) and it's close. Many shop signs are in Russian. - Some of these Russians are young men of fighting age. They get a little pissy when well-meaning middle-aged Americans ask them if they are on leave from defending the Motherland. Hey, just curious! - Still many ships in the Bosphorus, although not all headed that way are fully laden. Many of these ships are, of course, Russian. These have tended to be smallish rustbuckets. - It is cathartic to flip them off as they chug past. (Notes re Türkiye: this is a wonderful place with extremely kind people. Erdoğan is a shit beast. Russia has long been a major source of tourists here. There are still some good feelings for them left over from the assistance the Soviets gave Kemal Atatürk during the Turkish War of Independence. They also seem proud to be members of NATO. They are in a delicate situation made no easier by aforementioned tool Erdoğan. And fuck Russia.)

Maybe this will get the gotdam Canadians off their asses in improving the Seattle - Vancouver rail line. Damn thing slows to a crawl for the last 30 miles across the border. But I am stoked AF that my home town is hosting World Cup matches within walking distance of me (Fan Fest on the Seattle waterfront even closer). Shit yeah! Bring on North Macedonia v Cabo Verde!

Well, I'll just say that match was one of the most fun events I've been to in a long time. Now I want to go to Dubai to watch us get our shit pushed in by Liverpool or RM or Palmeiras or Boca or, well, everyone. But don't care.

Well shit. Thanks for the jinx...

Wondofok

Ah, fair point - could well be. I'm a beer or three in sitting at a Tucson pub. Yeah, if Kadyrov's thugs got the mayor, not a lot of hope there. Still don't think the Quisling has a long life expectancy either.

"Halyna" is a woman's name; in this case apparently a sitting city councilmember. Likely she will not win her seat again in a free Ukraine. Also likely, as you say, that she'll never get the chance. Pretty sure she's gone past the "shaved head collaborator" of Vichy France days.

God's troof.

It's a bit over the top and clearly more than the forced photoshoot sort of thing. Plus not all Russian players have signed on or done similar. Ovechkin is enough of a national idol that it would cause severe blowback to remotely threaten him anyway. Just my opinion after discovering it, which sucks because I liked the guy and it was cool to finally watch him live this season.

Ovechkin may be many things (including one of the greatest hockey players of all time), but he's not ignorant or apolitical. Google "PutinTeam" to see what he set up 3 years *after* the occupation of Crimea and the Donbas. (Throw Malkin in there too for good measure.) He is an out-and-out public supporter of Putin. It's his homeland and he certainly has that right, but to come out now and pull the dumb athlete "hurr durr I don't do politics" is some next level bullshit. I liked the guy and pulled for the Caps to win the Cup - but yeah, no.

My avatar, the Prime Minister of Madagascar, accepts your request.

Perhaps Coca-Cola, Visa, McDonald's, Budweiser (InBev), Adidas and Hyundai could do something about it (the other FIFA sponsors are all Chinese and Qatar Airways). Lol no, sorry, what was I thinking? 😂

Lol, shit! Good catch. But it looks really pretty so why not stay for 2 years? Oh yeah, 700 nights of pricey hotel rooms. Furk. 🤣

I thought the USA Network coverage was decent (as was CNBC when it was on there). NBC just regurgitated what I had already seen hours before on one of the other channels, for the most part. I was in Korea for the Pyeongchang games and yes, most of what was on Korean TV was Korea-centric. Not sure why it wouldn't have been. The Winter Olympics are a lot of fun if you ever get the chance to attend. Going to random sports is great and most of them are inexpensive. Hoping to be in Cortina in 2024 - that will feel more like an old-school Games despite a ton of the events actually being a long way away in Milan. I had no wish to go to Beijing even pre-Covid. (And Nicole, do give curling a try. It's fun although it's hard as hell to "run" down the ice sheet trying to sweep!)

Zey are not all smiles und zonshine.

Go Ti-Cats! Rumor is that their HC, Steinauer, will be the next DC at UW. Having the additional player* out there next season should help. *was going to say 12th player, but didn't want to talk to any A&M lawyers tonight.

I think we can all agree that Masi is simply terrible at his job.

Well, THIS didn't age well! What a season!

Lol. Wake up at 4:55am for a race that's over in 2 minutes.

S/he also has no understanding that you don't "win" the Congressional Medal of Honor. A&M isn't even the home of the most recipients among public universities.